Minister must release George building collapse report

Two months ago today, at the memorial service for the victims of the George building collapse, Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson stood before grieving families and pledged to return to personally brief them on the findings of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE).

A month later, on 2 June, he confirmed receipt of the CBE’s final report into the tragedy, which claimed 34 lives and injured 28 others.

Once again, he publicly committed to returning to George to present the findings in person, stating: “They deserve to hear directly from us, not through the media, about what went wrong and how we intend to rectify it.” Yet weeks have passed, there has been no sign of the minister, and the families are no closer to the truth.

The minister owes the public and the families an explanation for the delay. We cannot allow this tragedy to follow the same pattern of delay and evasion that has marked other investigations: 

• The Western Cape Government’s report, completed in January 2025, remains hidden from the public.
• The NHBRC report, completed in February, revealed damning failures by the construction company and led to the suspension of five NHBRC officials, yet no meaningful action has followed. 
• In May, the George Municipality’s technical and summarised legal reports were tabled confidentially, without media present 

Every investigation, every report should bring closure, but instead, it is adding to the same pile of unanswered questions, none of which bring justice any closer for the victims and survivors.

The families should not have to beg for transparency, especially from a minister who admitted this tragedy was “entirely preventable”  This report must not become another missed opportunity. It must mark the beginning of meaningful accountability.

Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Councillor